How blade pressure works on the PixCut S1
Blade pressure is a 1-100 scale that controls how hard the cutting head presses into the media. A higher number drives the blade deeper. The relationship isn't perfectly linear at the extremes - values below about 20 often don't produce a clean cut at all, and above 80 you risk snapping the blade or scoring the cutting strip in a single pass. For most materials, you're working in a 25-70 range.
Kiss-cut: cutting through the sticker, not the backing
Kiss-cut is the standard for peel-and-stick sticker sheets. The goal is to cut completely through the sticker film and adhesive layer while leaving the backing sheet (the wax paper or silicone liner) intact. This keeps all stickers on a single sheet and lets users peel individual ones.
The PixCut S1 default for kiss-cut in StixCut is 42. For most Liene brand sticker paper, this works well out of the box. If the sticker isn't releasing cleanly, try increasing to 45-50. If you can feel the cut through the backing or the sheet is separating after cutting, drop it to 35-40.
Use this table as a starting point (adjust in increments of 3-5):
| Material | Kiss-cut range |
|---|---|
| Liene photo sticker paper | 38-45 |
| Liene glossy sticker paper | 40-48 |
| Oracal 651 vinyl on sticker sheet | 45-58 |
| Thick specialty paper (kraft, holographic) | 50-62 |
Perf-cut: cutting deeper on purpose
Perf-cut is a dashed cut pattern used for shapes you tear out rather than peel. Because the cut is intentionally deeper - sometimes going all the way through the backing - the pressure settings are higher. StixCut's default perf-cut pressure is 53.
For perf-cut, the blade is supposed to cut through the media and partially into the backing. How deep depends on the design intent: some perf-cut jobs want a clean tear-out (deeper), others want a light perforation that holds together until the user tears it (shallower). Start at 53 and adjust up if the sheet isn't tearing cleanly, or down if it's separating on its own during cutting.
Backing penetration: what's too deep?
For kiss-cut, backing penetration is a mistake. If you can see scoring on the backing liner after cutting, lower the pressure. Consistent over-cutting accelerates cutting strip wear and can cause the sheet to curl or separate mid-job.
For perf-cut, some backing penetration is expected and intentional. The backing acts as a hinge until the user tears the sticker out.
Cutting strip wear
The PixCut S1 has a replaceable PTFE/Teflon strip beneath the media path. This strip protects the blade from hitting the metal platen and absorbs excess cut depth. With kiss-cut at correct settings, the blade barely touches the strip - wear is minimal.
Perf-cut and high-pressure custom settings are a different story. Deeper cuts repeatedly land on the same strip area, eventually scoring it. A scored strip can cause inconsistent cut depth (the blade "bounces" in the groove) and eventually prevent full cutting on worn areas. Visible scoring and roughness are signs the strip needs replacement.
How long a strip lasts depends on: material type (harder materials wear the strip faster), pressure settings, and print volume. For heavy users on perf-cut, replacement every 1-2 months is realistic. Kiss-cut-only users may get much longer life.
Testing a new material
Start 10 units below where you expect to land. Load a small piece of scrap media and run a single test cut path. Check: does the sticker release cleanly? Is the backing intact? Adjust up or down in 5-unit increments. Once you find the right pressure, save it as a custom material profile in StixCut so you don't have to dial it in again.